Mud-toe for traction-wheels.



PATENTE) MAY 7, 1907. J'. MODONALD & P. H. MOBRIDB.

MUD TOE FOR TRAGTION WHEELS.

ABPLIUATION FILED APR.16.1906.

UNITED sTaTns TaTnnT enrich.

JOHN MODONALD AND FRANK H. MCBRIDE, OF BLAIR TOWNSHIP,

WASHINGTON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '7, 1907'.

Application led April 16, 1906. Serial No. 311,942.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN MCDONALD and FRANK H. MCBRIDE, citizens of theUnited States, residing near Blair, in Blair township, in the county ofWashington and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and usefulAdjustable and Foldable Mud-Toe or Grouter for Traction-Wheels, of whichthe following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in toe or grouter attachments fortractionwheels to increase their foothold on earth roads; especially toa toe or grouter that can be readily applied to the wheels oftractionengines now in use; and the objects of our improvement arefirst, to provide a grouter with an adjustable base to facilitate itsattachment to the variously constructed traction-wheels now being used gand second, to supply foldable ytoes to project beyond the regular hiredtoes of the traction-wheel and that may easily and quickly be foldedaway from the tread of the wheel, without being detached therefrom, whenthey are not needed. Ve obtain these objects by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a portion of the rim and spokes of a traction-wheelwith the foldable grouter attached and folded; Fig. 2, is an inside viewlooking from the hub toward a segment of the rim, showing the adjustablebase of-the grouter attached, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thefoldable grouter and toe separated from the base or attaching part.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The treads of traction-wheels are usually provided with the toes 4, 4,etc., to cut into the path of the wheel to prevent slipping. On muddyroads or soft elds the spaces between these toes become filled withearth and thereby the toes become ineffectual. To overcome this slippinga less number of far-v ther projecting toes or grouters have beentemporarily attached. These have generally been difficult to attach andnecessarily removed in crossing wooden bridges or crosswalks which wouldbe broken by the concentrated load on the toes of the grouters, whichare placed farther apart than the regular toes, and consumed much timein attaching andddetaching. A We have overcome this difficulty by aconstruction in which the grouter proper is made a separate part hingedto an adjustable attaching base-part whereby the grouter may be turnedto project from the tread of the wheel, as indicated by the broken lines23 in Fig. 1, or folded within the body of the wheel entirely out of theway, as shown in the same view.

The attaching part consists of a body or stem 5 disposed centrallybetween the spokes 2 and 2 crosswise on the inner periphery of the rim 3of the wheel. One end has the integral outward-turned hook 7 to engagethe edge o f the rim, the point side of the hook overlapping the treadof the wheel. The opposite end has the inward projecting lug 13perforated to receive the threaded legs of the U-shaped yoke 12 which islooped around the spoke 2 toward the vopposite edge of the rim. By thenuts 14 on the threaded legs of the yoke the attachment is adjusted toany width of rim and the hook 7 is drawn into fixed engagement with theedge ofthe rim and the attaching base held iirmly in' position. Thisbase has the integral enlargement 6 to strengthen the base of the hookand carry the pintle 22 and also has the integral brace or strengtheningrib 19 throughout its length as shown.

The foldable toe or grouter part consists of a bifurcate body having theparallel branches 16 and 16 united by a V-shaped base 17 terminating inthe toe 18. The branches are perforated to receive the ends of thepintle 22 disposed through the enlargement 6 between the branches tohinge the parts together. The V-shaped base and toe are furtherstrengthened and supported by the bridge or cross-brace 21, the bevelsides 9 and 9 of the hook which are impinged by the inner walls 17 and17 and the outside 8 of the hook on which rests the edge of the brace 21when the grouter is turned outward for service. The surfaces 8, 9 and 9are curved, as shown, concentric with the pintle, so that the grouterswings to a perfect close seat thereon; and the notches 2O in the edgesof the branches 16 engage the edge and tread of the rim to furthersupport the grouter when in use.

The surface 8, of the point side of the hook which forms a seat block onthe tread of the wheel for the grouter toe, is not higher than theregular toes 4, therefore, does not interfere with the ordinary use ofthe wheel.

IOO

' of thebase'v, serve to attach theI ends of the coil spring l5 which byits resilience retains the grouter in the folded position showninFig. 1. This spring yields to allow the toe 18 to swing around on thebroken line 24 bringing the grouter to the position indicated by thebroken; lines 23 Where it is again retained by the spring Which is thenfdisposedacross and against the inner periphery of the rirn by which itis protected trein injury.r

I claiml.. A fold'able grouter for tractionwvheels having in combinationan attaching base', a 1nudtoey hinged to said base andl a springconnected to retainv the toe extended or toretain it Jfolded up onysaid' base 2. An adjustable attachingbase'vfor ay traction-Wheelgrouter, having in` combinationha hookv to', engage the edge of the rimof the Wheel,l a Ussliapedyoketorengage'a spoke of they Wheel?, the legsof said yoke disposed through a1 lug on the body ofy the hook'` andnutsthreaded on said legs.

3. A foldable grouterattachment for tracti'oneWheel's having? in.icombination', an attaching base'With a hook to engage'the edge ot theWheelerirn, a biiiircate grouter part having a V-shapedlbase-itted tostraddle the overlapping point of thev hook to form a rnudtoe projectingfrom the tread of the Wheel, they grouter part having the ends of itsbranchespivoted to the base ofthe hook and adapted to swing the toe fromits seat on the point side of the hook to the inside of the Wheel-rim.

4. -An adjustable and foldable grouter at-.

tachment for traction-Wheels, having in combinationy ak hook having astem with an adjustable spoke-clutch, a mud-toe seated on the point sideof said hook and hinged to the baseofthe hook to fold back` against thestem'f.

5.. All adjustable and oldable grouter attachrnent for traction-Wheels,having inI cornbination, a hook, a lug on thev stern ofsaid hook, a'.U-shaped yoke With its legs disposed through said lug, nuts threaded onsaid legs, a bifurcate grouter having the inside of its base shaped tostraddleI and-iit on the pointsi'de of thehookf, and the ends of itsbranches pivoted to the base of saidhook, and a tensional springconnectedA between the grout'er andthe sternf ofsaidvhool.

JOHN MCDGNALD. FRANK H. MCBRIIDE.

Witnessesz' EARLl P'IPHER, v i S. W..R1oHARDs.-zk1

